Abstract
New Zealand's agricultural system shows a net return of energy at the farm gate, but the ratio of food energy returned to auxiliary energy invested is so small that there is a need to be seriously concerned on two counts. First, the rest of the food production system, comprising processing, distribution and preparation, consumes sufficient additional energy that the overall energy ratio is less than 1:1. Counter to the trend towards increased energy consumption in agriculture will be those savings that may result from the development of animal breeds, crop varieties, and cultural practices that make more efficient use of the solar and auxiliary energy inputs. In all production systems involving the harvesting of biological materials, several critical parameters (energy ratio, energy intensity, energy productivity, and net energy yield) describe energy use. The consideration of these parameters along with socio-economic criteria should be incorporated into planning for the future development of such production systems. The changes which would most favorably alter the food-production system as a whole, i.e., alteration of diet, changes in product mix in favor of grains and pulses, and increased emphasis on genetic research, are unfortunately those least likely to receive attention. Dietary patterns change only slowly,
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Citation Formats
Smith, D J, and McChesney, I G.
Review of energy use in New Zealand agriculture.
New Zealand: N. p.,
1979.
Web.
Smith, D J, & McChesney, I G.
Review of energy use in New Zealand agriculture.
New Zealand.
Smith, D J, and McChesney, I G.
1979.
"Review of energy use in New Zealand agriculture."
New Zealand.
@misc{etde_5349902,
title = {Review of energy use in New Zealand agriculture}
author = {Smith, D J, and McChesney, I G}
abstractNote = {New Zealand's agricultural system shows a net return of energy at the farm gate, but the ratio of food energy returned to auxiliary energy invested is so small that there is a need to be seriously concerned on two counts. First, the rest of the food production system, comprising processing, distribution and preparation, consumes sufficient additional energy that the overall energy ratio is less than 1:1. Counter to the trend towards increased energy consumption in agriculture will be those savings that may result from the development of animal breeds, crop varieties, and cultural practices that make more efficient use of the solar and auxiliary energy inputs. In all production systems involving the harvesting of biological materials, several critical parameters (energy ratio, energy intensity, energy productivity, and net energy yield) describe energy use. The consideration of these parameters along with socio-economic criteria should be incorporated into planning for the future development of such production systems. The changes which would most favorably alter the food-production system as a whole, i.e., alteration of diet, changes in product mix in favor of grains and pulses, and increased emphasis on genetic research, are unfortunately those least likely to receive attention. Dietary patterns change only slowly, farmers are reluctant to modify traditional methods of farming and to grow new crops, and the development of new breeds of animals and varieties of crops is time-consuming and costly. Nevertheless, such changes will have to be made if the food-production system is to adapt effectively to the challenges ahead.}
place = {New Zealand}
year = {1979}
month = {Jan}
}
title = {Review of energy use in New Zealand agriculture}
author = {Smith, D J, and McChesney, I G}
abstractNote = {New Zealand's agricultural system shows a net return of energy at the farm gate, but the ratio of food energy returned to auxiliary energy invested is so small that there is a need to be seriously concerned on two counts. First, the rest of the food production system, comprising processing, distribution and preparation, consumes sufficient additional energy that the overall energy ratio is less than 1:1. Counter to the trend towards increased energy consumption in agriculture will be those savings that may result from the development of animal breeds, crop varieties, and cultural practices that make more efficient use of the solar and auxiliary energy inputs. In all production systems involving the harvesting of biological materials, several critical parameters (energy ratio, energy intensity, energy productivity, and net energy yield) describe energy use. The consideration of these parameters along with socio-economic criteria should be incorporated into planning for the future development of such production systems. The changes which would most favorably alter the food-production system as a whole, i.e., alteration of diet, changes in product mix in favor of grains and pulses, and increased emphasis on genetic research, are unfortunately those least likely to receive attention. Dietary patterns change only slowly, farmers are reluctant to modify traditional methods of farming and to grow new crops, and the development of new breeds of animals and varieties of crops is time-consuming and costly. Nevertheless, such changes will have to be made if the food-production system is to adapt effectively to the challenges ahead.}
place = {New Zealand}
year = {1979}
month = {Jan}
}